"Hey, cut the crap! No blood will be spilled on my stage today. Since you agreed to fight, do it according to Martial Law and be cordial to each other," Elder Bo interrupted, issuing a stern warning.
Han Xiao strolled casually up to the dais and stood facing Yue Zhi. The other disciples and instructors stepped back, leaving Elder Bo and the two challengers alone.
"Greet your opponent!" Elder Bo's hoarse voice echoed through the hall.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Yue Zhi sneered as he clasped his hands. "Yue Zhi greets Brother Han. Be lenient in the spar!"
Han Xiao silently cupped his hands in return.
"Begin!"
Yue Zhi drew his blade, chanting a spell that released a strong aura typical of someone in the late stage of the Level 8 Pulse Condensation Realm. Raising the blade vertically, he channeled a large amount of essence qi into it, igniting an inscription on the blade.
"Fire Lizard Dragon's Blade, activate!" he whispered, and the blade burst into crimson flames. "Hahaha, Prince Han, why haven't you drawn your sword? Are you chickening out already?"
The class erupted in laughter, and even the instructors smiled, some trying to stifle their amusement. Elder Bo, however, did not share their mirth. His eyes twitched repeatedly, ready to intervene if necessary.
Han Xiao secretly activated his Curse Eye Technique, scanning his surroundings and particularly focusing on Elder Bo. Under his scrutiny, he noticed qi almost leaking from the elder. 'Hmm, so you want to save this bastard. Then let's play a game,' he thought.
With a mere thought, Han Xiao utilized his passive agility skill, dashing forward so swiftly that the air rippled from his movement. Elder Bo also moved, prepared to intervene.
Suddenly, Han Xiao halted, causing Elder Bo to stop abruptly as well.
Han Xiao then punched Yue Zhi, who blocked it with his blazing sword. Bang! With a loud sound, both of them stepped back.
The class gasped in shock, witnessing the infamous "good-for-nothing" prince fighting Yue Zhi to a standstill with his bare hands.
The clash continued with Yue Zhi attacking using his sword skills, while Han Xiao relied on his movement skills to dodge and occasionally launched counterattacks with kicks and punches. Despite their efforts, neither managed to inflict significant damage on the other. The fight went on, and Elder Bo, observing the battle, began to relax, thinking that his earlier concerns about Han Xiao might have been unfounded.
All the while, Han Xiao secretly waited for an opportunity, continuously observing Elder Bo's qi with his ocular eye technique.
As the incense stick neared its end, Elder Bo began to speak, "The battle…"
Before he could finish, Han Xiao activated his passive agility skill to the maximum and flickered, a knife suddenly in his hand. No one saw him draw it from his waist.
Yue Zhi focused intensely on his opponent and raised his blade to block the knife attack. However, two inscriptions on Han Xiao's knife lit up upon contact, and the knife sliced through the blade like butter. In a blur, Han Xiao moved and stood behind Yue Zhi.
'Shit! This brat has deceived me,' Elder Bo thought, cursing internally. He appeared like a phantom, shaking his head as he saw Yue Zhi still trying to comprehend what had just happened. The hall fell into absolute silence, broken only by the clatter of the broken blade hitting the floor.
Ignoring Yue Zhi, who remained clueless, Elder Bo shrieked, "Brat! You've really gone too far this time. Didn't I warn you not to draw blood in my presence? Now you'll pay for ignoring my warning."
Han Xiao responded softly, "Hey, old man, this has nothing to do with you. This scoundrel provoked me from the beginning, and he made the biggest mistake by mentioning my sisters with his filthy mouth. Just chill and let it go. Plus, you don't have the authority to punish me, Han Xiao." He cleansed the knife with a white handkerchief and sheathed it.
The class had no idea what they were discussing, but they soon learned the harsh truth. A fine line of blood appeared on Yue Zhi's neck, and his head tumbled down, rolling to a stop as blood sprayed from the clean cut. The headless body fell forward next to the head.
The silence became even more awkward as Han Xiao talked down to Elder Bo.
Seeing Elder Bo shaking with anger, Han Xiao continued, "Stand down. I'll inform my father to handle this. Everyone here saw how this lowly being humiliated me, my nation, and my sisters. I'll ask my royal father to deal with the Yue Nation."
With that, he turned and walked nonchalantly back to his seat in the back row.
Elder Bo, trembling with fury, said, "Han Xiao, this is the Tianfu Sword Palace, not your damn Han Nation. You can't just leave without facing punishment from me."
Han Xiao halted and responded with a sneering tone, "Then what are you waiting for?"
Everyone in the hall shared the same thought: 'This brat is gutsy and fearless, unlike the Han Xiao we knew.'
"Hmph!" Snorting, Elder Bo unleashed his full cultivation, emanating a powerful aura of the Late Stage of the Houtian Realm, pouring over Han Xiao like a torrential storm. "On your knees, you obnoxious brat!" he yelled.
Han Xiao had already endured the immense pressure of Ji Hao back in the Seventh Floor Leaning Pagoda, a force a thousand times greater than Elder Bo's. Thus, this current pressure felt insignificant. The difference in their cultivation levels was vast, with Ji Hao, the Guardian, being two whole realms above Elder Bo.
To everyone's astonishment, Han Xiao slightly turned his head and said, "Is this all you've got, old man? This little aura of yours can't make me kneel. Keep your head calm before you further humiliate yourself." He then continued walking to his seat casually and sat in his usual idle manner.
His words were like thunder, humiliating Elder Bo and making him tremble with anger. "You-ignorant-brat. Today, I'll teach you a good lesson." This time, he raised his right hand, causing the air to churn as a large amount of natural essence qi gathered around his palm. This was a real attack, unlike the mere aura before!
Two elders quickly rushed to him, saying, "Elder Bo, he's just a kid. Wake up, don't lose your cool over this. We can discuss his actions today in the Elder Council Hall. There's no need to escalate things to this level."
Elder Bo snorted, and the aura around him dissipated. After giving Han Xiao a withering glare, he stormed out of the hall.